5. Organisation of assessment

5.1 General rules
5.1.1 The assessment methods define the manner of attesting the acquisition of knowledge and skills (e.g., an oral or written exam, pass/fail assessment, an essay, a test, a report, teamwork, a questionnaire etc).
5.1.2 An assessment criterion shall specify the expected level and scope of knowledge and skills in the context of the corresponding assessment method.
5.1.3 The learning outcomes, assessment methods and criteria must be interlinked.
5.1.4 The assessment methods to verify the achievement of the learning outcomes, the assessment criteria and procedure, incl. the principles of determining the final grade, shall be specified by the lecturer in the extended syllabus.
5.1.5 The final grade can be calculated as a total of different components (e.g., homework, a test, exam, pass/fail assessment) or based only on the results of an exam or assessment.
5.1.6 The assessment of learning outcomes can be differentiated (grades A, B, C, D, E, F) and non-differentiated (grades “pass” and “fail”). Differentiated assessment is used for bachelor’s and master’s theses.
5.1.7 A course is considered completed after the student has obtained a positive result in the assessment of learning outcomes. The grades A, B, C, D, E and “pass” are positive results and the grade F, “fail” and “not present” are negative results.
5.1.8 In case of differentiated assessment, the level of achievement of learning outcomes by a student is assessed based on the following scale:
A = “excellent” – an outstanding and particularly broad-based level of achievement of the learning outcomes characterised by exceptional, free and creative use of the knowledge and skills.
B = “very good” – a very high level of achievement of the learning outcomes characterised by proper and creative use of the knowledge and skills. More specific and detailed elements of knowledge and skills may reveal certain errors that are neither substantive nor serious.
C = “good” – a high level of achievement of the learning outcomes characterised by proper use of the knowledge and skills. More specific and detailed elements of knowledge and skills reveal uncertainty and imprecision.
D= “satisfactory” – a sufficient level of achievement of the learning outcomes characterised by the ability to use the knowledge and skills in typical situations; non-typical situations reveal gaps and uncertainty.
E = “sufficient” – a minimally acceptable level of achievement of the most important learning outcomes characterised by a limited ability to use the knowledge and skills in typical situations; non-typical situations reveal considerable gaps and uncertainty.
F= “insufficient” – the knowledge and skills acquired by the student are below the minimum required level.
5.1.9 In case of non-differentiated assessment, the level of achievement of learning outcomes by a student is assessed based on the following scale:
P = “pass” – the level of achievement of learning outcomes corresponds to or exceeds the prescribed level.
F = “fail” – the level of achievement of learning outcomes is below the prescribed level.
5.1.10 Written assignments in electronic format are submitted via the e-learning platform Canvas.
5.1.11 The requirements for written assignments are presented in the publication Formatting of Student Papers in the Estonian Business School.
5.1.12 EBS has the right to check learners’ written assignments with the plagiarism detection system by adding them to the plagiarism detection system database.
5.1.13 Grades given on the basis of the grading scale that was valid in EBS until 31 August 2007 are converted as follows:

5.2 Organisation of exams
5.2.1 The Office of Academic affairs prepares an examination schedule for each study group specifying the timetable for main examinations. There must be at least two days between examinations 1 of two subjects. Examination schedules are approved by the Head of the Office of Academic Affairs.
5.2.2 Examination dates are published in the e-learning platform Canvas by the 8th study week of the semester at the latest.
5.2.3 In order to record the examination results, the Office of Academic Affairs prepares an examination record including the names of all learners allowed to the examination. In case a make-up exam is taken during main examination 2, the Office of Academic Affairs prepares a make-up exam record with the date of the main examination. The lecturer is not allowed to alter the record.
5.2.4 The examination is conducted in the language of instruction of the subject. Examinations can be taken in another language only upon agreement with the lecturer.
5.2.5 Learners are allowed to take an examination if they have fulfilled all of the requirements for taking the examination set forth in the syllabus and they have no tuition fee debt.
5.2.6 Examinations can be taken twice: during the main examination and during a resit. Learners can choose between two main examination times – main examination 1 or main examination 2. Main examination 1 takes place after the end of the course during the study semester or the following exam session; main examination 2 takes place during the examination session immediately following the study semester. Main examination 2 of the last semester of the nominal study plan takes place during the semester. In the case of a written home examination or a written paper equated to an examination that must be submitted within seven calendar days, the lecturer may cancel the second examination (main examination 2, make-up exam). The business plan prepared during the Business Planning course cannot be resubmitted.
5.2.7 Passing the main examination is mandatory for learners. All learners are initially registered for main examination 1. Learners have the right to register for main examination 2 instead of main examination 1 within two working days before main examination 1 takes place. Online exams do not, as a rule, require any registration. A learner who fails to show up for the main examination must take a make-up exam.
5.2.8 In order to improve the final grade for a subject of the current semester, the learner must take a make-up exam. The terms and conditions of resitting and resubmitting other tests and assignments (home assignments, tests, etc.) are set forth in the syllabus.
5.2.9 Learners who fail to show up for main examination 1 and main examination 2 or fail the course are given „F“ as the final grade for the course. The learner must retake the course and pay the tuition fee again.
5.2.10 To participate in a knowledge test, a student shall submit an identity document at the request of the lecturer or a person substituting for the lecturer.
5.2.11 The lecturer generally prepares three versions of examination tasks. The tasks of main examination 1, main examination 2 and the make-up are different but generally on the same level in terms of difficulty. Exceptions are described in the syllabus.
5.2.12 Learners are generally not allowed to leave the examination room during an exam that takes place in a lecture hall. The lecturer conducting the examination may allow a learner to leave the examination room if they have a good reason for doing so.
5.2.13 Using aids, incl. smart devices, during an examination taking place in a lecture hall is generally prohibited. The lecturer may allow exceptions, which must be described in the syllabus and made known to the learner along with the examination paper. A lecturer or a person substituting for the lecturer has the right to remove a student from a knowledge test or refuse to assess the assignment submitted to him/her if the student is making use of help from others or violates the university’s good academic practice in any other way.
5.3 Organisation of make-up exams
5.3.1 Make-up exams take place at the beginning of the following semester at the latest. The make-up exams can also take place during the date of main examination 2 upon agreement with the lecturer.
5.3.2 Learners who received an “F” as the final grade for the main examination must take a make-up exam. Learners who passed the main examination and wish to improve their final grade are also permitted to take the make-up exam. The grade received during the last examination will apply.
5.3.3 The make-up exam has to be paid for and the fee is established in the tuition fee price list by the decision of the Board of SA Estonian Business School. In order to register for a make-up exam, the learner must pay the make-up exam fee, send a payment confirmation to the Office of Academic Affairs, after which they are entered on the make-up exam list. Learners must register for a make-up exam at the Office of Academic Affairs within three working days before the examination.
5.4 Assessment results
5.4.1 The lecturer enters assessment results into the e-learning platform Canvas and approves the examination record in the SIS within 10 working days of conducting the assessment. The lecturer coordinates any exceptions with the Office of Academic Affairs and notifies the learners who have registered for the subject of the new date.
5.4.2 Learners can apply for a certificate of their study performance that describes the volumes and grades of subjects passed from the Academic Secretary of the Office of Academic Affairs. Learners can regularly monitor their academic performance in the e-learning platform Canvas.